The Deputy Governor of Kano state, Dr Nasiru Gawuna has commended voters for their massive turnout during the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
Gawuna made the commendation while speaking to newsmen shortly after casting his vote at Magwan Primary school polling centre in Kano on Saturday.
NAN reports that Gawuna cast his vote along his wife, Hajiya Hafsat Gawuna at about 11:50am.
He said the massive turnout of voters during the election was a clear indication that the people of the state were ready and committed to electing leaders of their choice.
He also appreciated the residents for the support and cooperation they had given to both INEC and security personnel deployed to various polling centres to ensure peaceful conduct of the election.
According to him, the singular act demonstrated was a testimony that the people were committed to entrenching democracy in the country.
The Deputy Governor, who expressed satisfaction with the new voting system, noted that the system where by accreditation and voting go on simultaneously is commendable.
Meanwhile, Voters have commended INEC for introducing the new voting system which most of them described as less stressful.
NAN reports that in spite of the delay in the commencement of voting across the state due to late arrival of materials and INEC officials, the election witnessed large turnout of voters.
A voter, Muftau Magaji told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Magwan polling centre that he enjoyed the new voting pattern.
He said the simultaneous voting system had saved people from the stress of waiting to cast vote after accreditation.
“I came here around 12 noon and soon after I was accredited, I was given the ballot paper to thump print and cast my vote, “he said.
Another voter, Lawan Gwanda said the new voting pattern saves time and energy of electorate.
BREAKING: Nigeria decides: Two APC chieftains allegedly shot dead by thugs in Rivers
The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers state, has lost two of its chieftains, Chief Mowan Etete and Ignatius.
They were allegedly shot dead by suspected thugs.
This was contained in a statement by the APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Senibo Chris Finebone.
Finebone said Etete was former council chairman of Andoni local government area while Ignatius was an ex-official member of APC Rivers State Executive committee.
According to him, gunmen, allegedly from the opposition party, also killed another person believed to be late Chief Etete’s cousin.
He said, “PDP thugs have shot to death an APC chieftain in Asarama, Andoni LGA, Chief Mowan Etete. Etete was a former council chairman.
“Also, killed was his elder brother and another victim that is believed to be his cousin. It’s instructive to note that PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus is from Andoni LGA in Rivers State.
“Ignatius, an ex-official member of APC Rivers State Executive committee, was also shot to death in Ajakaja, same Andoni LGA of Prince Secondus.”
Nigeria decides: PDP thugs hijack ballot boxes, electoral materials in Rivers – APC alleges
The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Rivers state, has alleged that thugs sponsored by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have hijacked some electoral materials in some polling units in the state.
This was contained in a statement by the APC Publicity Secretary in Rivers State, Senibo Chris Finebone.
According to the party, the PDP thugs hijacked electoral materials at Wards 6, 8, 16 and other areas.
Finebone further alleged that PDP thugs are chasing voters away.
The statement said, “Thugs of the PDP have been chasing our voters away, shooting sporadically. They have hijacked many electoral materials.
“Here is situation report of their attacks: REPORT FROM OBIO/AKPOR LGA Ward 9: PDP thugs hijack all INEC materials.
“Ogbogoro Units 3,5,6: PDP Thugs hijacked all materials on their way to the center. Ward 6 – Ozuoba: APC tags were not signed and as a result, the agents were not allowed into the center. Ward 8 – Rumuekpe: PDP thugs are gyrating with Arms.
“Help from security agencies needed. Ward 16: Materials for units 4,5 and 6 are missing REPORT ON AKULGA Gun shots everywhere and nobody can come out to vote.
“PDP thugs chasing people away with guns. REPORT FROM EMOHUA WARD 10: Materials hijacked by Icelanders cult group.”
Amaechi casts his vote
The Minister of Transportation and former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, has cast his vote.
Amaechi cast his ballot in Ward 8, Unit 14, Ubima in Ikwerre LGA of Rivers State.
The Minister is also the Director-General of the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential campaign organization.
See video:
What Saraki said after casting his votes
President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki has cast his votes in today’s presidential and National Assembly elections.
Saraki arrived at Polling Unit 005/006 Agbaji Quarters, Ajikobi Ward, Ilorin West LGA, around 10 am to participate in process.
The Senate President expressed hope that his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, will win the election.
He also called on Nigerians to go out to their various polling units and cast their votes.
He added, “If you haven’t yet participated in #NigeriaDecides, I urge you all to come out and vote. Stay safe and be peaceful!”
Ad-hoc staff besiege INEC office in Owerri
Some trained ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Saturday, besieged electoral office over alleged non-inclusion in the elections duties.
The ad hoc staff numbering about 300 persons, besieged the INEC office in Owerri, awaiting information from INEC officials.
One of them, Mr Mike Echetama, told NAN that they were trained staff of tertiary institutions in the state who applied to work as Collation Officers and Returning officers during the elections.
Echetama, a staff of the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri said they had been at the INEC premises since the eve of the elections.
He alleged that INEC had failed to publish any list of ad hoc staff for the elections, leaving them in the dark.
“We learnt that only staff of the Federal University of Technology Owerri will be needed in the elections,” he said.
He also lamented that if they were not shortlisted for the work they would be stranded as a result of the restriction in movement.
Reacting, the INEC Public Relations Officer, Mrs Emmanuela Okpara said, collation officers would be needed after the elections, adding that selected ad hoc staffers would receive text messages to that effect.
She also denied the alleged preference for FUTO staff for the election.
Also speaking, Mr Leonard Uzoma, a staff of FUTO, who spoke with NAN said he spent the night at the INEC office in Imo.
Uzoma, who said he applied to work as a returning officer, said he received a text from INEC by 8 a.m., directing him to report at the office for his posting.
All is now set for the 2019 presidential and National Assembly elections in Nigeria.
Nigerians have now queued up at the various polling units in Imo, Rivers, Kwara, Kano, Akwa Ibom and other States in the country to elect their leaders for the next fours years.
Imo is one of the States with heightened political tension. While the State Governor, Rochas Okorocha is in the race for Imo West Senatorial District on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, some of his family members are also running for various positions.
Okorocha is currently at loggerheads with the APC national body.
The presidential and National Assembly elections will be held in the 36 states of the country including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
In Rivers, the battle will be between the Governor of the State, Chief Nyesom Wike, who would want to secure a victory for his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Transportation Minister and former Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, while in Akwa Ibom, it would between Governor Udom Emmanuel and his former godfather, Senator Godswill Akpabio.
In Kwara State, Senate President and former Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki will sweat it out with his former party, the All Progressives Congress, APC led by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
For Kano, the State is seen as a major decider for presidential elections. Although the state is controlled by the APC, with Governor Abdullahi Ganduje in charge, the PDP with the return of Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, is surely a party to beat.
Here, DAILY POST brings the updates, top stories and results of the election from Imo, Kwara, Kano, Akwa Ibom, Rivers and others…
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